It’s always easy for me to remember how many years we’ve been married. You just take whatever the current year is and add one more. (Math is hard.) After 21 years of sharing a last name, we have learned quite a few things about building a life together. One recurring theme has been that communication in marriage is key. But even after all this time, I find it so interesting that the source of all of our disagreements has always been miscommunication. If you think two decades together will ensure that you can practically read each other’s mind, think again. It’s a constant work in progress. But it’s worth the…

I don’t know about you, but for me, these days of staying at home have brought on some raging cases of nostalgia. Sweet memories flood back at the most unexpected times, and I am 100 percent here for it. Time passes rapidly, and I want to remember every detail. Because I’m with my teenagers every waking (and non-waking) minute, I find myself spending so much time just staring at them. It has actually gotten a little out of hand. It’s mind boggling to me that they are nearly full grown people with nearly full grown faces and nearly full grown personalities. I can’t stop staring. They don’t appreciate the staring…

You’re doing this all wrong. It’s a phrase that goes through my mind more often than I’d like to admit. I wouldn’t describe myself as a perfectionist, but there are definitely plenty of moments when I’m filled with fear that I’m doing something wrong, or at least not doing it the right way. Yesterday I felt that feeling again, standing behind me and relentlessly tapping me on the shoulder. You’re doing it wrong. That feeling has enveloped me since the day I became a mom, so it didn’t necessarily come as a surprise. When Covid-19 first captured our attention, and then soon became the boss of all of us, it…

I was 26 years old when I gave birth to our first daughter. She was born a week late and weighed in at over nine pounds. My doctor had repeatedly told me, every week leading up to the birth, that she would be seven pounds, tops. We had some complications during the birth, and she was put in the NICU to be monitored for 5 days. She required a feeding tube inserted through her belly button, as well as breathing treatments administered around the clock. The rug was pulled out from under us, and we found ourselves stunned, facing a situation we never imagined possible. The gamut of emotions was…

My phone was blowing up with emails yesterday. Maybe yours was, too. Updates about closures and cancellations flooded my inbox. So when yet another email came through, I simply didn’t want to open it. But there it was. Canceled. No more sports for the foreseeable future. My daughter has found her niche in competitive volleyball. In just this first season, she’s gained so many life lessons. Additionally, she’s gained self-confidence and courage that has helped begin to shape the person she is becoming. But now it’s over. All practices and tournaments are canceled. In a matter of seconds. I’m feeling some feelings right now. I think we all are. And…